asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his proposals for the siting of a male employing industry in Castlebar, County Mayo.

I am assured by the Industrial Development Authority that they are fully aware of the employment needs of Castlebar.

The Authority have informed me that they are vigorously promoting their 27,000 sq. ft. advance factory which was completed in April 1981 for a suitable industrial project, preferably in the engineering sector. There have been six visits by industrialists to the town since the completion of the advance factory. In addition, the IDA have 16 acres of industrial land in the town, which they are also promoting for suitable industrial development.

I assume that the Minister having dealt with Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary, has no jobs left at this stage, but is he aware of the serious imbalance as between male and female employment in the town and of the very substantial and significant rise in male unemployment in that district? Finally, has any progress come out of the six visits by the industrialists to fill the 27,000 sq. ft. for a factory there?

I am aware of the imbalance in Castlebar at the moment. Nothing definite has come out of the visits there so far.

Is the Minister hopeful, and will he continue to press for progress in that direction? It is very important that a male-employing industry be sited there as soon as possible.

I am aware of the employment imbalance between male and female. There is a need for a male employment industry and the Deputy can be assured that we will be directing male employment in there to correct the imbalance.

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